From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has observed with dismay the lopsidedness in the allocation of funds to the disadvantage of the North generally and the North East in particular.
This was contained in a statement released by the forum’s spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere.
According to the statement, the recent pattern of capital investment reveals a troubling regional imbalance that heavily favors Southern Nigeria, while ignoring the urgent infrastructure needs of the North, especially the North East, which remains the most fragile and underserved part of the country.
The statement added that the exclusion is not only an infrastructural failure, it is a national threat. It risks deepening inequality, inflaming regional tensions, and undermining the very unity of the Republic.
“We demands :immediate inclusion of North East Road and railway infrastructure in the national development portfolio.
A public explanation from both the Federal Ministry of Works and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) regarding the gross disparities in regional infrastructure allocations.
A binding commitment from Northern lawmakers, governors, and ministers to reject any federal budget or policy framework that does not ensure balanced and inclusive infrastructure development.”
